So long, Mr. Zivic: Farewell to a Pacific basketball refereeing icon

Somehow, the Pacific's high school and interservice basketball courts won't seem the same after next week.

For John Zivic, a refereeing icon who officiated in the Pacific rim dating back to his first Kubasaki High School game in 1971, departs the island Friday for retirement in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

A guy who first came to Okinawa in 1967 with the 909th Air Refueling Squadron and flew more than 200 Vietnam combat support missions, Zivic has officiated in one capacity or another in Hawaii, Okinawa and Korea ever since. He served as basketball commissioner for Korea for six years and Okinawa for five.

Zivic, 73, a retired Air Force master sergeant, never worked another game after suffering an on-court heart attack during the Martin Luther King Invitational Tournament for military teams on Jan. 20, 2008. But he did rebound to regain full health and while he says he'll miss the Pacific, he's looking forward to hanging up the whistle for good.

John was more than a referee. He upheld the rulebook on the court, but was an excellent communicator, somebody who could make coaches and players alike understand why a call was made a certain way. And John was alsoa friend, somebody I could count on to explain rule interpretations, and also serve as a sounding board during rough times.

John, you'll be missed, my friend.

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Defense dominates for Yokosuka; seeing Redd on Okinawa: What we learned in USFJ-AFL Week 3.0

Musings, mutterings and the occasional bit of schmahts as Ornauer turns full attention to the interservice sports summer beat, softball and football:

-- Quite radically different outcomes on Saturday than the first time Yokosuka faced Yokota on May 16 and Torii played Foster on May 9. Yokosuka scored 34 unanswered points and forced eight turnovers and three sacks in overwhelming Yokota 41-12; the Seahawks had to rally to beat the Warriors 25-14 on the 16th. And after getting pummeled 45-14 by the Bulldogs, the Wolfpack held Foster's offense to just one touchdown in a 15-6 defeat; on the ninth, Foster's offense posted four TDs.

-- Even when Michael Redd, Foster's ax-crazed linebacker who resembles 11 men going for the ball, gets shut out in the sack column, he still contributes big time. His fumble-return touchdown gave the Bulldogs just enough cushion to hang on against the Wolfpack.

-- Tip your cap to the Wolfpack for stepping up despite having so few bodies. Even coach Darell Keith suited up; he's not played in the last nine years. "Pray for me," he told me Friday, the night before the game.

-- And how did the old guy do? He said he missed several tackles, but did get 10 of them. "The old guy can still do it," he said, rueing, however, the fact that Torii gave up the fumble return and a first-quarter safety. "We gave them nine points, though. Without that, it would have been 6-6."

-- Chris Speed, very aptly named. Scored Torii's lone touchdown and has all three Wolfpack TDs this season.

-- Were the Bulldogs looking past their opponent to Kadena, which Foster plays this coming Saturday? Especially as a result of their first encounter, "we didn't take it as seriously as we should have," assistant coach Tim Craig said. "But they were a lot more competitive. Their coach made some adjustments, and they made a lot better, smarter decisions."

-- Delrick "Tractor" Traylor of the Seahawks has had three three-sack games in Yokosuka uniform. He just missed getting a fourth in Saturday's win over Yokota. "I'll get it one day," he told me afterward.

-- Lorenz Piper gets it done on all sides of the ball. He intercepted Yokota QB Ryan Jones andblocked a punt in the first quarter and ran 4 yards for a touchdown to put Yokosuka ahead 26-6 in the second period.

-- That Carl Harris is one fine weapon for the Seahawks. 150 all-purpose yards, a 57-yard touchdown catch and 70 yards on 19 carries.

--Boy, did Ryan Jones take a pounding or what? He was only sacked three times, but was hurried at least 15 more times and hit after unloading the ball on at least 10.

-- At the near-midway point of the season, defense continues to rule (despite the 41 points the Seahawks posted) and across the board, offenses continue to be works in progress. One key word: Practice. Yokota's hybrid Texas Tech-Missouri spread attack holds potential, but unless everybody -- and I mean everybody, consistently, every day -- comes to practice, the execution won't be there.

-- Next up: Kadena hosts Foster and tries to slice the Bulldogs' Southern Division lead to a half-game. Defending champion Misawa is at Yokota, also trying to keep pace with the North-leading Seahawks. Kickoffs are 5 p.m. at Yokota's Bonk Field and Kadena's McDonald Stadium.

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Redemption weekend at Lombardo Field FourPlex: What we learned at Pacificwide 19.0

Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as another Pacificwide Open Interservice Softball Tournament begins and ends in the blink of an eye and the countdown toward May 28, 2009, and the 20th anniversary tournament begins:

-- At last! The huge, 400-pound gorilla is off the Lady Guzzlers' and American Legion's backs. The third time was the charm for the Guzzlers, who suffered back-to-back double-dip heartbreak defeats at Sang Ji University's hands. Legion, meanwhile, finally snapped the International Guzzlers' five-year men's title streak.

-- Legion added to its growing litany of Pacific interservice Grand Slam tournament titles, capturing No. 11, putting it 28 behind the legendary Pacific Force squad between 1989 and 2004. Legion also avenged its 15-5, run-rule, six-inning defeat at the Guzzlers' hands last May.

-- Dee-fense! Dee-fense! The Lady Guzzlers definitely gave us some glovin', making just one error in their 5-4 championship-game edging of Red Fox, a Korean fastpitch team based in Pusan. They also played it safe on the basepaths; the Guzzlers ran themselves out of several innings in their 2007 two-game loss to Sang Ji.

-- They call them "All-Air Force" for a reason. Four-time All-Air Force outfielder Candace Dugowas having a pedestrian tournament until the final, when she went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Stepped up when it counts.

-- Not bad for a collection of players with 32 All-Service, 23 All-Armed Forces and five All-American selections, a group that invested $6,000 in airfare and $4,000 in hotel fees. "It's worth it," said Kazue "JoJo" Dancer, three-time All-Air Force catcher who came all the way from Aviano Air Base in Italy. Becca Tongen and Lindsay Ciullo were second-furthest, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

-- "This was it," four-time All-American outfielder Karrie Warren said. "If we didn't win this time, we weren't sure we would come back. Now, we have to make another trip to defend it."

-- Lady Guzzlers coach Danny Acosta still holds the record for longest distance traveled, flying from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he was deployed, to Seoul in five days.

-- Has this tournament seen many players as relentless, determined and intimidating as Leticia Pacheco, All-American shortstop and former Fresno State All-Western Athletic Conference star? ... Didn't think so. Talk about a tiger on the field.

-- Women's team to watch for in the July 4th weekend Firecracker on Okinawa: Yard Busters of Okinawa. Last year's Firecracker runner-up boasts a collection of solid young Marines and dependent spouses ... and they won't have four Korean teams nor the Lady Guzzlers in front of them.

-- Legion, meanwhile, sported 12 prior All-Service picks, two of whom, Dan Miller and Bo Brewer, flew from Texas. "That's our Legion family," coach John O'Brien said. All Legion players either are or were stationed on Okinawa, including Chris Souza, who played for Legion despite being assigned to Korea's Osan Air Base.

-- Like I said, they call them "All-Air Force" for a reason. Legion left fielder Chadd Malin, four times All-Air Force, went 4-for-4 with a double, home run, sacrifice fly and four RBIs against the Guzzlers.

-- If the top of the order sets the table, then Legion's top three certainly created a feast fit for kings, princes, dukes and any ol' sultans of swat. Read: 10-for-14, eight RBIs. "The top of the order played and did what it was supposed to," leadoff batter Chris "Smoke" Stevens said.

-- But like any proud champion, the Guzzlers refused to go quietly into the night, would not vanish without a fight. Four-time All-Armed Forces second baseman Chris Simpson's two-run single centerpieced the Guzzlers' five-run seventh inning, and they had the tying run at the plate when Deron Jyo flew out to Stevens to end it.

-- Legion's next mission: Avenge their double-dip defeat at the Osan Defenders' hands last July in the Firecracker. Barring deployments and other circumstances, O'Brien should have his full squad, plus Souza.

-- And as always, the Pacificwide served as first blush for players who were the last ones cut from their All-Service camps, polishing their games so they can get another invite and back into the fight. Also serves as a good platform for those who have been there, done that. With 24 men's and 12 women's teams, it resembled an All-Armed Forces albeit on a much broader scale.

Fun time had by all. 36 days until the Firecracker, 360 days until the 20th Pacificwide.

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Zama's girls rise to the top; overtimes galore; Hamano saves the Knights: What we learned on Far East Day 5.0

Musings and mutterings as Ornauer sadly takes his soccerstag straps off his belt until March 1:

-- What a marvelous, magical moment for Zama American girls soccer Friday at Mike Petty. A team that had relied on an offense that produced 135 goals and 90 assists this season, both school records, saw the player responsible for keeping the ball out of the net open the door to a Trojans title.

-- Deanne Polaski, a sophomore goalkeeper, made three clutch saves in the penalty-kick shootout and the Trojans survived 80-20 pressure by Kubasaki to capture their first Class AA Tournament title in school history. Zama won the shootout 3-2 and the match 2-1.

-- It also ended a 12-year drought in terms of Zama winning outright Far East team titles, since the girls volleyball team won the Far East title in 1997.

-- What a way for sisters Aubrey and Mallarie Ashliman to go out, Far East champions as they embark on a return to Virginia from whence they came. What a way for Taylor Russell to ring in her career at Zama, after transferring from Kadena last summer and considering not playing soccer at all.

-- Note that the last three Class AA Tournament finals played on Okinawa have produced two penalty-kick shootout verdicts and one "golden goal" overtime decision. Note that in Friday's matches at Kubasaki, three went to overtime.

-- What a performance by Christian Academy In Japan Knights goalkeeper Sho Hamano, who almost singlehandedly kept Hong Kong International off the Knights' backs with 12 saves in 1-0 shutout of the Dragons.

-- CAJ really enjoys those odd-numbered years -- the Knights won Class AA titles in 2005 and 2007 in addition to Friday's.

-- You couldn't tell if coach Sean Collier was the coach or one of the Knights' players, the way he was carrying on like one of his players after the final whistle.

-- You think Mitch Shibley of Kubasaki was trying to make a statement in Friday's third-place match? Try five goals as the Dragons throttled Zama American 6-0, a day after Kubasaki's desultory semifinal performance against Hong Kong, a 3-0 loss.

-- A word to those who made the coverage happen: Thanks to my associate in Seoul, Gary Cashman, and on Okinawa, Cindy Fisher; thanks to Rebekah and Thomas in Daegu; thanks to Katie, Jareena, Emie and Janel for being such good pals; thanks to Alyssa, Alicia, Brittni, Kayce, Randy, Chris, Dan, John, Sara, Sarah, Elizabeth and Alaina for the eyes and ears on Okinawa; thanks to Michael, Jessica, Coco and Joe for the eyes and ears at Yongsan; thanks to Messrs. Clausen, Lange and McKeown and Ms. Mendoza and Scoppa and school administration at Seoul American, Daegu American, Kadena and Kubasaki for making it happen.

-- Special word of thanks to Suzette at Iwakuni. I don't know how you manage it, all those classes AND being a tournament director. You are, indeed, a super woman.

Countdown resumes. 283 days.

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Osan makes it two title trifectas, Zama's girls lead parade of Class AA championship firsts: What we learned on Far East Day 4.0

Musings and mutterings as Ornauer hopes there's some first-class seats on the KTX bound for Seoul in the morning:

-- It couldn't be done, people insisted. No way could Osan -- or any other loser's bracket team -- survive a 5:30 a.m. wakeup, 7 a.m. start to the first of four matches, then win all four of those matches to stanch Matthew C. Perry's bid for a school-first Far East Girls Class A Soccer Tournament title.

-- But that's exactly what Osan American did. Behind a seven-goal performance by Bria Pressley, the Cougars eliminated Morrison Christian Academy 3-1 and Daegu American 5-2 before taking down the Samurai in a two-match final, 4-0 and 4-1.

-- I'll be the first to admit -- I wrote off the Cougars after they lost to Perry in the winner's bracket on Tuesday. Shows what I know.

-- That makes a record five Class A titles for Osan, the first since 2006 and helps the Cougars match the 2001-02 version that also won Far East titles in volleyball, basketball and soccer in the same school year. Marvelous stuff.

-- Anybody notice that after each of those three titles, Osan earned exactly no MVP awards? Andjust onespecialty award in volleyball or soccer? Still, life's all good for the Cougars -- they earned the big enchiladas in each of those sports.

-- Speaking of multiple champions, Yongsan International-Seoul made it back-to-back Boys Class A titles and in the same runaway fashion as last year. Jon Park, Daniel Cho and David Kim each scored twice as the Guardians clipped the Robert D. Edgren Eagles' wings 8-0.

-- This was an Eagles team that almost matched Osan's girls four-match marathon bid. Brandon Massie also almost matched Pressley's goal output -- he had five despite operating on a sore Achilles' tendon.

-- Hey, Zama! Hey, Zama! Hey, Zama! Welcome to title match land! The Trojans' girls reached the Girls Class AA final for the first time in school history, blanking Faith Academy 3-0 in the first of two semifinals. Zama battles host Kubasaki at 3 p.m. Friday for the crown.

-- A Zama title would be its first in a team sport since sharing the Far East wrestling crown with St. Mary's International in 1982. The Trojans' last outright title? 1963, in boys basketball.

-- In the Boys Class AA final, for the first time, no DODDS and no Okinawa teams to be found. Christian Academy In Japan and Hong Kong International hold that honour, at 3 p.m. Friday at Seoul American. CAJ is going for its third title in five years, Hong Kong its first. Zama and Kubasaki play for third place at 1 p.m.

-- Weather outlook: Fair in Seoul, mid-day showers on Okinawa.

One more day to go.

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Young Panthers corral Mustangs, Cobras strike, Samurai soar and other things: What we learned on Far East Day 3.0

Musings and mutterings as Ornauer examines the day's doings with a mix of surprise and understanding:

-- OK, the Girls Class AA Final Four field is set, Faith vs. Zama and Kubasaki vs. ASI ... um ... what was that you said?

-- You can't be serious.

-- A Kadena team that starts five freshmen and was thoroughly forecast to be rebuilding ... knocked off defending champion American School In Japan 3-1, with freshman Kristie Karibian's 40-yard lob shot in the 71st minute breaking the 1-1 tie?

-- Um, folks ... this and the new Ice Age weren't forecast to happen this year. Teams that start five freshmen and are comprised mostly of underclassmen simply aren't supposed to post upsets of such teams that return all but a couple of players from their championship season.

-- Just another reason why they play the matches on the surf -- er -- turf instead of on paper or Web sites such as this one.

-- Also shows what I know *as I beat my head on the keyboard*

-- Just as Kubasaki must face up to Okinawa rival Kadena at high noon Thursday at Mike Petty, so, too, did Kubasaki's boys face Kadena on Wednesday afternoon in the Boys Class AA Tournament, sending the Panthers to the consolation bracket. Much too soon a fate for a team expected to be in the Top Four, as Kubasaki coach Chris Kelly pointed out.

-- When do you put a player who leads the Pacific in goals by girls with 48 into the net and ask her to disguise herself as a goalkeeper? When Matthew C. Perry Samurai stalwart Kate "Berlin Wall" Cutshall can't go because of a bad wheel, and coach Chris Anderson must put one of his best athletes in the net.

-- Oh, it worked, BTW, as Karla Stroud made five saves and Danielle Dobson's 32nd goal boosted the Samurai to their school-first victory over Girls Class A host Daegu American, 1-0.

-- Samurai just one victory away from that "third time's the charm" championship triumph in one of those now-or-never years; the core of that team is either graduating or transferring.

-- So, too,will E.J. King's boys bid farewell to a group of seniors, Jon-Jon Green, Jeremy Ruelos and Ronnie Cardona, among others, who've been responsible for the Cobras' 5-0-1 run this week, after playing a pedestrian 8-8-1 regular season.

-- Weather outlook, nasty everywhere except Okinawa, where scattered showers are forecast. Iwakuni, Seoul, Daegu ... break out the rain gear.

Three days down. Two to go.

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Turnabouts, ties, tension and other tussles: What we learned on Far East Day 2.0

Musings and mutterings as Ornauer almost mistakes Tuesday's Girls Class A play for Thursday's championship round:

-- Hey, c'mon, guys, can we save the tension for Thursday? Seriously, that Daegu-Morrison PK shootout and that nailbiting Perry 3-2 victory over Osan certainly had all the trappings of championship play. And that was just the first day of the double-elimination round.

-- Guts and glory award: Tuesday's goes to Jasmine Pressley, the Osan American sophomore who despite a painful left ankle soldiered on and even racked up an assists in the defeat against Perry. Another who believes that pain is only weakness exiting the body.

-- So, just who are the teams to beat? A quick survey of coaches in all four tournaments revealed quite the mixed bag. Let's go 'round the horn and find out what they have to say:

-- Seoul American's Billy Ratcliff feels Boys Class AA champion Kubasaki and runner-up Christian Academy In Japan, each of whom took turns pounding an opponent 11-0, stand above the crowd.

-- Ornauer's take: Pool C might stand as the Boys Class AA Group of Death. How often do you see Zama on top and Kadena at bottom of a pool? ... Didn't think so. And don't forget second-place Hong Kong, which beat Zama handily.

-- Speaking of Groups of Death, Boys Class A Pool B featured surprising Global Visions Christian, steady Nagoya International and defending champion Yongsan International-Seoul. E.J. King might have a ton to say about the outcome, but don't be surprised if the two finalists come from Pool B.

-- Following on Monday's spate of 0-0 ties in the Girls Class AA Tournament ... therewere two more on Tuesday, and Kubasaki participated in THREE straight scoreless draws spanning Monday and Tuesday.

-- Riding high on Monday, shot back down on Tuesday. Faith Academy looked like world beaters on Monday, then they turn around and fall against Seoul American? Me thinks we'll see a different Faith team come the playoffs.

-- Weather outlook -- Okinawa, merely cloudy on Wednesday, rain resuming Thursday and Friday. Iwakuni, Seoul and Daegu, perfect conditions on Wednesday, cloudy Thursday morning becoming rainy by mid- to late-morning.

Two days down. Three to go.

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Rock and roll classics, scoreless ties and stunners aplenty: What we learned on Far East Day 1.0

Musings and mutterings as folks from Falcon Field to Mike Petty Stadium commence to doing the dry dance:

-- One might expect a high school soccer team to get pumped to the strains of Kanye West, Fall Out Boy, Finger Eleven, No Doubt (even if they are sooooooo 2002), anything upbeat and modern. So, what is Robert D. Edgren's girls soccer team doing listening to Journey's 1981 standard, "Don't Stop Believin'?" "It's great music. It gets us pumped," senior Jaelen Knolla said.

-- It definitely worked Monday, when the Eagles -- a non-robust 0-12-1 entering Far East Class A -- went 2-1-1 in pool play.

-- Now they've shown they're Worlds Apart from the Eagles of March, will this begin a Chain Reaction as theyhitch a ride on that Wheel in the Sky, Faithfully sticking to their theme and go for it Any Way You Want It? Dare we suggest they might be Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' that championship trophy on Thursday? I'm sure they'd welcome it with Open Arms. The Girls Can't Help It.

-- Still, that's after just one day of play. And the Eagles still must contend with a field chock full of talent. Osan American captured the top seed entering the double-elimination round; Daegu American proved it still has Matthew C. Perry's number (2-1 victory at Camp Carroll); and there's still Morrison Christian Academy lurking about.

-- Raining on Okinawa? Must be Far East Class AA Tournament week. Every time mid-May comes around, the skies open up and drench Mike Petty and Upper Fields at Kubasaki.

-- Still, with reservoir levels way below normal for this time of year, good thing.

-- A year ago, David Krievs helped Kubasaki's boys to their first Class AA title since 2002. Now, he's toiling for Nile C. Kinnick, which met Kubasaki on Monday at Seoul American's Falcon Field, where the Dragons vanquished Krievs' Red Devils 3-2. He called the reunion "weird, hard, tough, complicated going up against my old team."

-- Now, let me get this straight. Global Visions Christian's boys beat defending Class A champion Yongsan International-Seoul 1-0? There were four SCORELESS ties in Monday's Girls Class AA play at Kubasaki? Hong Kong International tied Christian Academy In Japan 1-1? Kadena's boyslost to Zama American? Guam High's boys beat Kinnick after having not played a minute of soccer since December?

-- You're kidding, right?

-- One newcomer to the Girls Class AA scene, Faith Academy, has been referred to as the "real deal" by a handful of coaches. "They move the ball well, they do the small passes and control the midfield," Kadena coach Hoa Nguyen said.

-- Weather outlook -- Good the next two days in Seoul, Daegu and Iwakuni, turning nasty on Thursday. More wet stuff on Okinawa all week.

Gad, this is FUN!

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Brown, Thornton excel on track; Quallio finally falls; Davis shines for Kinnick on mound: What we learned in Week 10.0

Musings, mutterings and the occasional bit of schmahts as Ornauer begins the week-long Far East soccer journey:

-- He doesn't wear a brown UPS uniform, but where Nile C. Kinnick track and field is concerned, Donavan Brown can do plenty for you. Aside from winning the 400 hurdles, Brown won the 200 for the first time in his career and captured gold in the 400 the very first time he ran it, in Saturday's Kanto Plain Invitational Track and Field Meet at Tokyo's Oi Pier Ground.His feats paced the Red Devils to their school-best team finish, 83 points, in the event.

-- Six multiple winners arose from the Kanto, featuring 13 girls and 12 boys teams from around the theater. American School In Japan captured the boys and girls team titles and broke three meet and league records in the process.

-- A day before her 18th birthday, ASIJ's Gwen Thornton led the record cavalcade, shattering her own 400 record, then helping the Mustangs' girls 1,600 relay team beat its 1-year-old mark.

-- When you gaze at what Siarria Ingram did, winning the 800 and mile and upstaging longtime Kanto power Jennifer Stolle of ASIJ in the process, remember that Ingram is a freshman and will be back next year. No telling what this kid can do.

-- The big upset came in the boys 1,500, when thestar-studded career of Zamasenior All-American Andrew Quallioended in shocking fashion, as ASIJ’s Sam Krauth finally caught him, winning in record time of4:06.5, breaking Quallio’s record of 4:10.3 set in the Kanto finals. It was Quallio’s first loss in two years.

-- Even more of a surprise than that was what Quallio did afterward. He grabbed his hip number card, scrawled a congratulatory message on it for Krauth and ran over to bring it to him. "You can't teach that," Quallio'scoach Mitchell Moellendick said.

-- Wish Quallio well as he moves onto his next life mission, at the Air Force Academy. "The Air Force is getting a good one," Kubasaki coach Charles Burns said of Quallio, who did win the 3,000.

-- On the diamond, Kubasaki claimed the unofficial DODDS-Pacific baseball crown by rallying past Kinnick 7-6 in Saturday's Kanto Invitational Tournament third-place game at Camp Zama's Rambler Field. Kaleb Robinson pitched a complete game and tripled and scored the winning run on a passed ball in the seventh, but Dragons coach Randy Toor was very impressed with Kinnick right-hander Eddy Davis, who struck out 29 batters in 14 innings over the weekend. "We definitely faced the best pitcher I've ever seen in my four years here in Eddy Davis," Toor said.

-- A hearty congratulations to the Kanto champion St. Mary's International Titans, who captured the crown by blanking American School In Japan 5-0. That gives the Titans a sort of unofficial triple crown; they won the Kanto regular season and also the Kubasaki Spring Fling Tournament back in April.

War Far East soccer. 16 1/2 hours (from this writing).

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Passing fancy in USFJ-AFL: What we learned in Week 2.0

Musings and mutterings as we head toward the big showdown Saturday, Foster at Yokosuka with the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League's best record on the line:

-- Bob "Doc" Docherty continues producing touchdowns the way Colombia produces coffee beans. But it was Glenn Roscoe's clutch drive-halting interception and return that turned the tide and helped Yokosuka rally from a 25-14 deficit for a 28-25 win at Yokota on Saturday. Docherty threw for three scores, giving him five (two running) TDs on the season, and went 10-for-20 for 210 yards at Yokota's Bonk Field.

-- An integral part of the Misawa Marauders for many years, David Valencia is proving his worth as a Kadena Dragons signal-caller. Pressed into emergency duty after starter Jonathan Wright went down with an injury in the season opener, Valencia passed for three touchdowns, going 4-for-7 for 75 yards, as Kadena scored the league's first shutout of the season 18-0 over Torii Station.

-- Speaking of Foster, the Bulldogs' stingy defense continues to pile up turnovers and sacks. They had six sacks in Friday's 9-6 win over Misawa, three by Michael Redd, which gives him a league-leading seven on the season. Foster has 13 sacks and six interceptions in two games thus far.

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A sad farewell to Serena Swanland, Kadena Class of 2007, taken from us too soon

Those who were around Far East high school sports tournaments on Okinawa from 2004 to 2007 might remember my faithful lieutenant, a student-reporter named Serena Swanland, with jet-black hair and a quiet, unassuming, helpful manner.

It is with heavy heart and damp eye that I report that that life was snuffed out years before its time last week in Texas due to an automobile accident.

http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/45098832.html

Serena was 19 and just beginning to live her life. She was en route back home to Okinawa, where her mother, Shiou Yen, is Kadena High's special education assessor. Friends and family had been looking forward to her return and spend time with her.

Back in 2004,Serena began helping Stripes with coverage of Far East tennis tournaments, and in the 2006 tournament on Guam, she was the "eyes and ears" for Stripes of the Far East tournament. No task was too big, no job too overwhelming for her.

She will be missed. And I'm absolutely heartbroken. Please say a prayer for her, her family and friends who will miss her terribly.

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Far East Class A Soccer Tournaments: Third time the charm for Samurai girls strikers?

Will the third time be the charm for Matthew C. Perry's Samurai girls strikers?

They've enjoyed three straight fine regular seasons, but Far East Class A Tournaments have been house of horrors for Perry. That 2-1 "golden goal" championship loss two years ago to Daegu American, and that unexpected first-round exit at eventual champion Faith Academy's hands.

They'll try to put those nightmares behind starting Monday. Read about them and get a breakdown of the tournament and its teams here.

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Far East Class AA Soccer Tournaments: Is recent Kanto success a sign of the times?

No longer is Okinawa holding complete sway over Far East Class AA Soccer Tournaments that the island once dominated.

From 1998-2004, Okinawa won all 10 Class AA Tournament titles and only four times did a non-Okinawa school even reach the final. Since then, Christian Academy In Japan has won the boys title twice and American School In Japan the girls title once, And Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools teams have reached the final seven of 16 times.

Aberration or a sign of the times? Read about it here and get a breakdown of both Class AA Tournaments here.

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USFJ-AFL Week 1.0: Nail-biter at Kadena; Bulldogs, Jets open strong; all travel obligations met; Army needs more bodies

Musings, mutterings and the infrequent schmahts as Week 1 of the 10th U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League regular season gets put in the books:

-- The big worry, whether everybody would be able to meet their travel obligations, didn't manifest this week, at least. Yokosuka made it to Kadena two days before Saturday's clash at McDonald Stadium, while Yokota made the bus ride 10 hours to Misawa.

-- The defending champion Jets outlasted the visiting Warriors in a classic Northern Division smashmouth defensive struggle 8-2. More scoring plays were done by the defense (2-1) than offense. Not surprising, given the combatants at the time of the season.

-- What a nail-biter in the sultry heat Saturday at Kadena Air Base's McDonald Stadium. Right down to the wire, with two seconds left, YokosukaBob Dochery scored his second quarterback-sneak touchdown, putting the cap on the Seahawks' 15-12 win over the Kadena Dragons.

-- Docheryonly went 8-for-19 for 75 yards, but sure had the right cure for the most dire of situations. Quite apropos, for a 6-foot-6, 280-pound signal-caller and physician at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka.

-- Kadena, the former two-time Okinawa Football League champions, still have the running backs to make noise, but interior size, well it's not quite the same as in 2004-05. Still, better keep one eye on RB Desmond Fagan (18 carries, 64 yards); if he gets loose, whoa, Nellie.

-- Same can be said of Foster tailback Dyamon Durant (209 yards, two TDs, 14 carries; 142 yards and both TDs on four second-half carries) and Yokosuka's Carl Harris (98 yards, seven carries); each bears considerable watching, else they'll be racking up the points.

-- Opportunistic defensive performance by the Bulldogs: Three interceptions, two returnsd for touchdowns, plus seven sacks, three by Michael Redd, and a punt block.

-- The question being, can the Bulldogs do that against the USFJ-AFL's more powerful entities? Particularly against the staunch defenses of the teams from up north? We'll find out Friday when Misawa visits Foster.

-- Let me get this straight: The Army can fund an All-Army rugby, boxing and wrestling team, holds boxing smokers and even mixed martial arts competitions; the only protective wear you'll find is boxing and rugby headgear. Yet the Torii Wolfpack can only suit up 22 players, lowest in the entire league?

-- One can't tell me that flag (sorry, I never use flag and football in the same sentence) is more safe that full-contact tackle football. Yes, you tackle a flag ballcarrier by his side strap; yet, the rest of the players are out there banging on each other without protective gear. Tackle players are in far better shape and condition than their flag counterparts.

-- Nobody is asking for a return to the days when as many as 100 servicemen would be sent TAD or TDY to the gym for six months to do nothing but practice and play football. All the highly motivated, dedicated folk who play interservice football and represent their base want is a fair shake. They're paying for the privilege to play. It's no skin off the command's nose. Just weigh the manhours lost to flag and those lost to tackle. The difference will be very surprising.

Besides Friday's Misawa-Foster showdown, Week 2.0 features Yokosuka at Yokota, 6 p.m. kickoff at Bonk Field, and Torii at Kadena at 7:30 p.m. at McDonald Stadium.

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Incredible rallies, Kanto track record breakers, Leo-less CAJ soccer wins and other things: What we learned in Week 9.0

A little late, following a quick visit to Korea ... Musings and mutterings as we rush headlong toward the final regular-season weekend, Far East soccer tournament championship week:

-- Now, that's more like the Gwen Thornton we expected, blowing the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools' girls 310-meter hurdles and 400 records out of the water. I knew she was dissatisfied with her performance at the Mike Petty meet last month; boy, did she make amends. And does this portend another fabulous outing at Saturday's Kanto Invitational?

-- Speaking of record breakers, the Kanto boys 400 hurdles mark set last year by Yokota's Phillip Williams didn't hold up very long. It now belongs to Donavan Brown of Nile C. Kinnick.

-- And Thornton and Brown didn't just nip the old records; they broke them by at least .7 seconds.

-- Ran into Seoul Track Club thrower Mark "Superman" Lieberg and sprinter/jumper Kristy Tayloron Monday at Seoul American. They weren't satisfied with their Petty outings, either, never mind the fact that neither has a throwing/jumping pit to train. You don't think they're planning the performances of their lives on Saturday at Oi Pier Ground, near Haneda Airport?

-- So much for the idea that Christian Academy In Japan's boys soccer team is all Leo Kobayashi and a supporting cast. For the first time in his career, Kobayashi was kept off the scoreboard in CAJ's 4-1 win Friday at Yokota.

-- OK, so Kadena's baseball team takes a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning, still leads 4-2 and is just four outs away from sending the best-of-three Okinawa Activities Council district baseball championship to a third game. And you're telling me that with two out -- TWO out -- Kubasaki pours 13 runs across the plate, capped by Josh Jones' game-ending two-run blast?

-- I mean, are you serious?

-- Which just goes to show, it makes no difference who leads in the early innings. Just the last inning.

War Kanto track and Far East soccer. Five daya and seven days.

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Expanded USFJ-AFL set to kick off 2009 season Saturday

Are you ready for some football? How about an expanded U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League, now doubled in size from three to six teams?

The 2009 regular season opens Saturday, highlighted by the first interservice football games played on Okinawa since the 2005 Okinawa Football League's Habu Bowl.

Seven-time USFJ-AFL champion Yokosuka travels to two-time OFL champion Kadena, kickoff at 4 p.m., followed by Torii Station vs. Camp Foster at 7:30 p.m.; both games at Kadena Air Base's McDonald Stadium.

Up north, Yokota travels to defending champion Misawa; kickoff is at 2 p.m. at Hillside Stadium.

Check out the link for thecomplete season schedule and team capsules.

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Keeper has Dragons’ backs: Falco’s saves, team-first attitude lift Kubasaki

So, just who is this Kubasaki goalkeeper who stuffed three saves in four Kadena attempts to help the Dragons win a penalty-kick shootout and sweep the Okinawa Activities Council season series from the Panthers?

Aside from cat-quick goalkeeping reflexes, she's a double-digit basketball scorer and rebounder, good for nine kills and four blocks in a volleyball match, takes three AP courses, carries a non-weighted 4.0 GPA and comes from a single-parent home.

Read about Gabby Falco in this week's Home Team page.

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Diamond doings, miracle shootout diving saves and other things: What we learned in Week 8.0

Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer takes his sunburned arms and face indoors and puts 'em on blocks for a couple of weeks before Far East:

-- The most frightening prospect surrounding Seoul American's DODDS-Korea baseball and girls softball titles is that this may only be the start. Nine of the Falcons' 15 softball players are freshmen, while the core of the Falcons' baseball pitching rotation will be at Yongsan Garrison until they graduate.

-- That's not good news for the rest of the Pacific, either, let alone for Osan and Daegu American. Keep in mind, the DODDS-Japan softball tournament and the Kanto Invitational baseball tournament began inviting out-of-area teams this year.

-- An idea of the kind of pitching they'll see at the Kanto Invitational, May 15-16 at Camp Zama and Naval Air Facility Atsugi: Eddy Davis of Nile C. Kinnick, who threw a no-hitter earlier this season. Colton Heckerl and Casey Donovan of Seoul American, who threw respective one- and two-hitters last weekend. Sayer Austin of Yokota, who matriculated under Seoul American coach Bob Heckerl in the Korea youth activities leagues. Kaleb Robinson and P.J. Varner of Kubasaki. All these guys can throw serious BBs.

-- Three times each, Kubasaki's and Kadena's boys and girls soccer sides have taken the pitch this season in Okinawa Activities Council regular-season matches. All six matches decided by one goal. Two went to penalty-kick shootouts. So, does anybody still dispute the notion that the regular-season records are meaningless, that the teams are so evenly matched that it's tough to put one ahead of the other on paper? ... Didn't think so.

-- Now, c'mon, Aaron Ahner can't throw a soccer ball THAT far, can he?

-- Note to anybody who wrestles for Kadena High School: Be prepared to be approached by Panthers boys soccer coach Tom McKinney, who'll lead you into the gym and point to the Far East Class AATournament banners in the corner and go: "See those? I can get you one!" Then, he'll convince you that you have what it takes to bea goalkeeper.

-- Sound far fetched? Hey, that approach worked with former Far East wrestling gold medalist Brandon McCullough and it seems to be working with Alex Pelkey, who made some insane stops against Kubasaki in the Panthers' 1-0 win on Friday that gave Kadena the season series 2-1.

-- Speaking of "you had to be there to see them" saves because you wouldn't believe it otherwise ... Not just one, not just two, but THREE saves did Kubasaki junior girls goalkeeper Gabby Falco in the four-shot penalty-kick shootout against Kadena.

-- I mean, yes, I can buy Falco utterly stoning Britney Wise on the first attempt; it's normal for a keeper to make one save in a shootout. And though a second stop is somewhat exceptional, I'll also buy Falco's diving stop of Ashley Zapp's laser that looked destined to reach the low right corner.

-- But c'mon. Tell me I did NOT see Falco do a complete, total instant replay of her second save, diving left once again and sticking her left hand out to deflect Cassie McDonald's try at the low right corner.

-- Are you KIDDING me???

-- I mean, please. Two of those shots were going into the net. Leadpipe-cinch, mortal hammer-lock goals, I tell you.

-- Think Falco could have stopped Leo Kobayashi last week? He only put up two four-goal performances, giving him 15 for the season as Christian Academy In Japan improved to 5-0.

-- Congratulations to Zama American's and Matthew C. Perry's girls, who this season cobbled the best regular-season records in school history. And to Zama's boys for rebounding from a tough loss to CAJ by sweeping Robert D. Edgren on the road.

-- And don't be surprised if Perry's boys make some noise at Class A; the Samurai have won three of their last four matches. Sometimes, it's not about how many you win, but when.

-- Boys goal watch: Their seasons are finished, so they may be overtaken, but for now, Seoul Foreign's Andrew Park sets the pace with 23. Yongsan International-Seoul's David Kim and Kadena's Stanley Schrockare next (19), followed by Edgren's Brandon Massie (18) and Osan American's Derek Becker (17).

-- Girls goal watch: Tied for the Pacific lead are Zama's Aubrey Ashliman and Perry's Karla Stroud with 37 each. Right behind is Zama's Mallarie Ashliman, who might have more than 32 goals were it not for her Pacific-leading 26 assists. Zama, by the way, has scored a school-record 106 goals and has an incredible 87 assists. Perry also has a school record for goals, with 88, with Danielle Dobson scoring 28 along with 17 assists. Kinnick's Brittany Evans is next with 23 goals, followed by Osan American's Bria Pressley and Seoul Foreign's Brittney Rader(22 each) and Kubasaki's Elizabeth Fabila (21).

-- Rare visit to the golf links revealed Zachary Lay, the new Okinawa Activities Council district champion. Birdies on 9 and 12, the latter an especially tough par on the hilly Awase Meadows Golf Course, helped keep him just ahead of teammate Reid Henderson for a two-stroke victory on Thursday. Lay's a junior, Henderson a sophomore, and they're year-round players, so no question, we've not heard the lastof them.

War Kanto Track and Far East Soccer. 13 and 15 days.

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Pacific high school soccer ratings, two-weeks-before-Far-East edition

1, Christian Academy In Japan (5-0) -- Two four-goal performances by Leo Kobayashi; Knights keep rolling.
2, Seoul Foreign (17-1-3) -- Season complete.
3,Kadena, Okinawa (11-9-1) -- Panthers capture Okinawa Activities Council season series 2-1 with another one-goal verdict against Dragons.
4, Yongsan International-Seoul (16-2-1) -- Regular season complete; only defense of Guardians' 2008 Far East Class A Tournament title remains.
5, Kubasaki, Okinawa (6-7-2) -- Dragons flip-flop spots with Kadena after falling to Panthers.
6, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan(11-4-2) -- Lone loss last week at home to CAJ.
7, Yokota, Japan (8-5) -- Idle last week.
8, Zama American, Japan(11-5-1) -- Two-match sweep at Robert D. Edgren snaps two-match skid.
9, Seoul International (10-6-1) -- Season complete.
10, E.J. King, Japan (8-8-1) --Idle last week.

Girls
1, American School In Japan (13-0) -- Can anything or anybody stop the Mustang Express?
2, Kubasaki, Okinawa (12-1-1) -- Two nail-biters last week, PK shootout win over Kadena, last-minute heartstopper against Naha Nishi.
3, Seoul Foreign (17-2-2) -- Season complete.
4, Zama American, Japan(17-3-3) -- Two-match sweep at Robert D. Edgren caps perfect week for Trojans.
5, Matthew C. Perry, Japan (16-6-1) -- Two-match sweep at Robert D. Edgren caps best regular season in school history.
6, Kadena, Okinawa (9-5-2) -- Rebeounded nicely for win over FC Unai, defense solid in defeat against Kubasaki.
7, Faith Academy, Philippines (10-4) -- Only losses against Philippines junior national team.
8,Osan American, South Korea (14-4-2) -- Regular season complete; only Far East Class A Tournament remains.
9, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan (13-5-2) -- Two-match skid halts five-match win streak.
10,Taejon Christian International, South Korea (12-7-4) -- Season complete.
(tie),Daegu American (9-6-1) -- Regular season complete; Warriors host Far East Class A Tournament in two weeks.

Agree or disagree? Is ORNY spot on or full of hooey? Shout it out! Be true to your school and remember, you've entered THE "No-Hate Zone." *smile*

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